Diary, 1838 August 16-September 20

The diaries of Phoebe George Bradford detail the life of a wealthy Wilmington, Del. woman active in community and church affairs, charitable organizations, and the local social scene.

The diaries, covering a span of around seven years, document Bradford's thoughts on religion, raising and educating her sons, and the activities of friends and family. The diaries also document her relationship with her prominent husband, Moses Bradford (whom she refers to as B. in the diaries) and her attendance at social events such as weddings, funerals, parties, and political gatherings in the Wilmington area and beyond. Because of her social and economic standing the community, Bradford was friends with and mingled with the most prominent families in Delaware, Maryland, and Philadelphia, many of which are documented in her diaries.

When the family built and moved into their new house at 11th and Washington Streets in Wilmington, Del. Phoebe took a special interest in decorating and planning the garden. Many of the entries from 1838 to 1839 reference her occupation with interior decorating and gardening. Her diaries abruptly end in May, 1839. It appears Phoebe did not keep any more diaries after these last entries, and she died a short time later.

The diaries also mention the cholera epidemics in Wilmington in the 1830s and the efforts made by Dr. William Gibbons to treat its victims. Dr. Gibbons frequently appears throughout the diaries as a close family friend.

This collection of diaries provides researchers with a unique and detailed woman's perspective on upper-class life in the mid-Atlantic region in early 19th century. This collection does not contain volumes 3 and 21.